Table 4.10: Presumptive Legislation for firefighters

Jurisdiction

Does the jurisdiction have presumptive legislation

Presumptive legislation

Disease/Injury

Qualifying period

Occupation

New South Wales

Yes

Workers Compensation Act 1987, section 19A and schedule 4

Any of the 12 specified: primary cancers

  • Primary site brain cancer
  • Primary leukaemia
  • Primary site testicular cancer
  • Primary site bladder cancer
  • Primary site kidney cancer
  • Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Primary site prostate cancer
  • Primary site ureter cancer
  • Primary site colorectal cancer
  • Primary site oesphageal cancer

 

Qualifying period for specified cancers Primary site brain cancer (5 years)

  • Primary leukaemia (5 years)
  • Primary site breast cancer (10 years)
  • Primary site bladder cancer (10 years)
  • Primary site kidney cancer (15 years)
  • Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma (15 years)
  • Multiple myeloma (15 years)
  • Primary site prostate cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site ureter cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site oesphageal cancer (25 years)

 

Fire and Rescue NSW

NSW Rural Fire Service

Office of Environment and Heritage (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service)

Forestry Corporation of NSW

Sydney Trains.

Victoria

Yes

Firefighters’ Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Act 2019

Any of the following 12 specified cancers:

  • Primary site brain cancer
  • Primary site bladder cancer
  • Primary site kidney cancer
  • Primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma
  • Primary leukemia
  • Primary site breast cancer
  • Primary site testicular cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Primary site prostate cancer
  • Primary site ureter cancer
  • Primary site colorectal cancer
  • Primary site oesophageal cancer

 

Qualifying period for specified cancers

  • Primary site brain cancer (5 years)
  • Primary site bladder cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site kidney cancer (15 years)
  • Primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma (15 years)
  • Primary leukemia (5 years)
  • Primary site breast cancer (10 years)
  • Primary site testicular cancer (10 years)
  • Multiple myeloma (15 years)
  • Primary site prostate cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site ureter cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site colorectal cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site oesophageal cancer (25 years)

 

The compensation applies to career and volunteer firefighters who:

  • have been diagnosed since 1 June 2016 with one of 12 specified types of cancer
  • have served in active firefighting roles for a specified number of years, depending on the cancer type
  • are diagnosed during their service or within 10 years after they've finished their service

If you are a volunteer firefighter, you will also need to demonstrate that you have attended fires to the extent necessary to meet the requirements of the presumptive legislation.

Queensland

Yes

Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 ss36B-36E

Any of the 12 specified: primary cancers

  • Primary site brain cancer
  • Primary site bladder cancer
  • Primary site kidney cancer
  • Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Primary leukaemia
  • Primary site breast cancer
  • Primary site testicular cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Primary site prostate cancer
  • Primary site ureter cancer
  • Primary site colorectal cancer
  • Primary site oesphageal cancer

 

Qualifying period for specified cancers

  • Primary site brain cancer (5 years)
  • Primary site bladder cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site kidney cancer (15 years)
  • Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma (15 years)
  • Primary leukaemia (5 years)
  • Primary site breast cancer (10 years)
  • Primary site testicular cancer (10 years)
  • Multiple myeloma (15 years)
  • Primary site prostate cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site ureter cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site colorectal cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site oesphageal cancer (25 years)

 

Fire officer, member of a rural fire brigade, volunteer firefighter and warden

Western Australia

Yes

Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 – Division 4A and schedule 4A

Any of the following 12 specified cancers:

  • Primary site brain cancer
  • Primary site bladder cancer
  • Primary site kidney cancer
  • Primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma
  • Primary leukemia
  • Primary site breast cancer
  • Primary site testicular cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Primary site prostate cancer
  • Primary site ureter cancer
  • Primary site colorectal cancer
  • Primary site oesophageal cancer

 

Qualifying period for specified cancers

  • Primary site brain cancer (5 years)
  • Primary site bladder cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site kidney cancer (15 years)
  • Primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma (15 years)
  • Primary leukemia (5 years)
  • Primary site breast cancer (10 years)
  • Primary site testicular cancer (10 years)
  • Multiple myeloma (15 years)
  • Primary site prostate cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site ureter cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site colorectal cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site oesophageal cancer (25 years)

 

Employed firefighters

South Australia

Yes

Return to Work Act 2014, Schedule 3

Any of the 12 specified primary cancers:

  • Primary site brain cancer
  • Primary site bladder cancer
  • Primary site kidney cancer
  • Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Primary leukaemia
  • Primary site breast cancer
  • Primary site testicular cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Primary site prostate cancer
  • Primary site ureter cancer
  • Primary site colorectal cancer
  • Primary site oesophageal cancer

 

Qualifying period for specified cancers: 

● Primary site brain cancer (5 years)

● Primary site bladder cancer (15 years)

● Primary site kidney cancer (15 years)

● Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma (15 years)

● Primary leukaemia (5 years)

● Primary site breast cancer (10 years)

● Primary site testicular cancer (10 years

● Multiple myeloma (15 years)

● Primary site prostate cancer (15 years)

● Primary site ureter cancer (15 years)

● Primary site colorectal cancer 15 years

● Primary site oesophageal cancer (25 years)

●    Primary site ureter cancer (15 years)

●    Primary site colorectal cancer (15 years)

●    Primary site oesophageal cancer (25 years)

 

Employed firefighters with an injury which occurs on or after 1 July 2013

Tasmania

Yes

Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, s27 and s28 and Schedule 5

Any of the following 12 specified cancers:

  • Primary site brain cancer
  • Primary site bladder cancer
  • Primary site kidney cancer
  • Primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma
  • Primary leukemia
  • Primary site breast cancer
  • Primary site testicular cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Primary site prostate cancer
  • Primary site ureter cancer
  • Primary site colorectal cancer
  • Primary site oesophageal cancer

 

Qualifying period for specified cancers

  • Primary site brain cancer (5 years)
  • Primary site bladder cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site kidney cancer (15 years)
  • Primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma (15 years)
  • Primary leukemia (5 years)
  • Primary site breast cancer (10 years)
  • Primary site testicular cancer (10 years)
  • Multiple myeloma (15 years)
  • Primary site prostate cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site ureter cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site colorectal cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site oesophageal cancer (25 years)

 

Employed and volunteer firefighters

Northern Territory

Yes

Return to Work Act 1986 s50A

Return to Work Regulations 1986, clause 5B and 5C

 

Any of the following specified cancers:

  • Brain cancer
  • Bladder cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Leukaemia
  • Breast cancer
  • Testicular cancer
  • Multiple Myeloma
  • Asbestos related disease
  • Primary site liver cancer
  • Primary site lung cancer
  • Primary site skin cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Ureter cancer
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Oesophageal cancer

 

Qualifying period for specified cancers Brain cancer (5 years)

  • Bladder cancer (15 years)
  • Kidney cancer (15 years)
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (15 years)
  • Leukaemia (5 years)
  • Breast cancer (10 years)
  • Testicular Cancer (10 years)
  • Multiple Myeloma (15 years)
  • Asbestos related disease (15 years)
  • Primary site liver cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site lung cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site skin cancer (15 years)
  • Prostate cancer (15 years)
  • Ureter cancer (15 years)
  • Colorectal cancer (15 years)
  • Oesophageal cancer (25 years)

 

Firefighters

Volunteer firefighters

Northern Territory Police Fire and Emergency Services Dependents of deceased firefighters for cancer diagnosed after 4 July 2011

C’wealth Comcare

Yes

Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, s7(8)

Any of the following 12 specified cancers:

  • Primary site brain cancer
  • Primary site bladder cancer
  • Primary site kidney cancer
  • Primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma
  • Primary leukemia
  • Primary site breast cancer
  • Primary site testicular cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Primary site prostate cancer
  • Primary site ureter cancer
  • Primary site colorectal cancer
  • Primary site oesophageal cancer

 

Qualifying period for specified cancers

  • Primary site brain cancer (5 years)
  • Primary site bladder cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site kidney cancer (15 years)
  • Primary non-Hodgkins lymphoma (15 years)
  • Primary leukemia (5 years)
  • Primary site breast cancer (10 years)
  • Primary site testicular cancer (10 years)
  • Multiple myeloma (15 years)
  • Primary site prostate cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site ureter cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site colorectal cancer (15 years)
  • Primary site oesophageal cancer (25 years)

 

Employed firefighters

C’wealth DVA